Jakarta Acting Governor, Heru Budi Hartono, officially opened the Urban Farming Festival 2024 at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), Central Jakarta, Tuesday (9/17). The festival will last until Thursday (9/19).

In Jakarta, the land is limited

He hoped that it could further motivate the urban village and sub-district heads to help residents use land, which is unoptimal for urban farming activities.

"In Jakarta, the land is limited, moreover vegetables are essential to keep inflation at bay," he expressed.

He explained that in 2030, BPS projections estimated the urban population would reach 63.4 percent. That number was expected to continue to grow to 66 percent by 2035.

Therefore, the urban village and sub-district heads were expected to maximize available land such as reservoir edges, flood canals, road edges, and toll road underpasses. As in North Jakarta, he was referring to the toll road underpass from Plumpang to Penjaringan, which is 12.5 kilometers long and could be maximized for urban farming.

He warned land use also involved residents. Not only anticipating inflation and helping the economy, urban farming would also be useful in eradicating stunting for residents around the location.

"For instance, Jakpro uses the LRT Depot land to plant chilies, distributed to the surrounding community and employees. This is our example, encouraging urban farming," he asserted.

Jakarta KPKP Agency Head, Suharini Eliawati stated that  his party received assistance from Jakarta Culture Agency in the Urban Farming Festival at TIM. Besides exhibiting various agricultural products in 49 booths and a bazaar of 30 MSMEs, the event was also enlivened by seminars, technical guidance, and competitions.

She went on to say that his party also held the selection of Urban Farming Ambassadors as an effort to encourage the younger generation to care about food security, especially urban farming. As planned, the Grand Final of the election will be held on Thursday (9/19) and will be attended by Putri Indonesia for the Environment.

"We also assist in the form of agricultural production facilities for symbolic regional development to six sub-district representatives," she continued.

The six sub-districts that received assistance were Ujung Menteng Urban Village, Semanan Urban Village, Sunter Jaya Urban Village, Cikoko Urban Village, Pegangsaan Urban Village, and Tidung Island Urban Village. It was then continued by providing symbolic assistance in the form of agricultural processing facilities to five representatives of the residents.

The five residents who received the assistance were Idha Noviyanti, a resident of Jalan Wijaya Kusuma RT 12/04, Munjul Urban Village; Dian Sri Wurtiningsih, a resident of PT. HII complex RT 03/05, Kelapa Gading Timur Urban Village; and Hayati a resident of Jalan Seruni RT 06/01, Jatipulo Urban Village.

Then Puji Astutik, a resident of Jalan Cempaka Indah RT 02/07, Harapan Mulya Urban Village and Betty Rossalina, a resident of Jalan Taman Wildlife RT 09/05, Jatipadang Urban Village.

"This event was held with the support of various parties, including government, BUMD, private sector, academics, and residents. Thank you to all parties who have supported," she closed.